For a start, poor result and performance today. But I want to focus on the long term future of Balotelli and Sturridge and how they can thrive.
Now I think that Balotelli guy is hugely gifted although he can be a bit lazy and looks like he doesn't give a toss but how do we get the best out of him? For me he needs a partner similar to the one I think Sturridge thrives on. I don't think that they would be best partnering each other as I think that they both want to spearhead the attack. That someone should be someone who drops deep, receives the ball and creates something quickly, much like Suarez does. Now I think that player could be Sterling/Coutinho but they're not technically strikers nor do I see them being a striker.
Anyone agree or am I talking rubbish? It is quite late after all.
Balotelli
posted on 15/9/14
They've played one game together and it was a 3-0 win away from Spurs.
I only hope that terrible partnership lasts..
posted on 15/9/14
Balo needs a partner and that person for the time being should be Lambert. Balo can do his work deep and wide as he tends to like while having Lambert as the focal point.
Packing a side with AMs doesn't suite us. We need two genuine forwards.
posted on 15/9/14
comment by Say My Name (U18558)
posted 9 hours, 38 minutes ago
So they can't play together and you don't have anyone to play with them.
Genius,pure genius.
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Did I mention how boring you are yet??? YAWN
posted on 15/9/14
Balotelli guy is hugely gifted although he can be a bit lazy and looks like he doesn't give a toss
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He definitely didn't look lazy or that he couldn't give a toss against Spurs. In fact he was all over the pitch.
Perhaps its the 4-3-3 formation. When we played the 4-3-3 against Southampton with Sturridge he was also a little ineffective. We looked much more effective when Lambert came on and we played 2 up top.
I think it was the same for Balotelli against Villa. The 4-3-3 formations isn't working that well just yet. The 4-4-2 diamond is a lot more effective.
posted on 15/9/14
He's the black Berbatov but without the goals....Get used to more performances like the one against Villa!!
He does have some "Hilarious capers" tho so its not all bad.
posted on 15/9/14
I think your problem is that you bought a lot of players from Southampton in the summer. Where did they finish? And everyone went crazy for their players and coach... ridiculous really. Balotelli is a bargain compared to all those overpriced mid-table players but you need to play him as a centre forward and not out wide.
As for the performance yesterday, you have to give Villa credit. These teams grow when they play the bigger teams and they were first to every loose ball, bullied Liverpool all round the pitch, and in reality should have scored more goals.
It was always going to be an uphill battle after such an exceptional season last year and with the Champions League starting, there will be no respite this year!
posted on 15/9/14
Balotelli is too slow on the ball. A few times against Villa we were moving the ball quickly then he would receive it and take 3 or 4 touches before playing it. Which means the one striker we have on the pitch has killed the tempo and is out of position for longer
posted on 15/9/14
Lets all shoot him down before he's even settled into our team
posted on 15/9/14
Not sure what the op is saying. Balotelli drifts to pick up the ball, he is the player you are saying he needs to feed off...
That was our problem yesterday, similar to Dalglish, "suarez lone striker nobody in the box system" (copyright of TOOR) there was no one there for Balotelli to feed. Or feed off, cout was more interested in smacking balls at someone he dident like in row z.
Sturridge and balo work so well, with sterling in behind because one or two of them will always bomb on for the box
Brendan needs to drop this idea of 4-3-3 and play to our strengths. Every other team is adopting the diamond now too.. Why's he trying to go backwards??
posted on 15/9/14
I'm saying that he doesn't work well on his own and suits players running off him and interchanging with his strike partner.